For just under 20 years, he was at the administrative helm of Education Group Tilburg. And he was already involved in MindLabs when the concept was just a figment of his imagination. But at some point, his packed schedule no longer matched his energy budget, Van der Westerlaken now admits. "While I am still perfectly healthy and vital, mind you," he adds, laughing. "But my work has become a form of addiction over the years. One for which I pushed aside a lot. Now it is time to take space for that again." He thinks for a moment. "Retiring... I'm curious if I can do it at all. I think it will be a matter of completely reinventing myself."

Things 'run the way they do'
As chairman of the board of Onderwijsgroep Tilburg, Van der Westerlaken has been present from the very beginning in discussions about a media cluster and the later MindLabs. "Interesting matter. Although, to be honest, at the start I sometimes wondered what exactly I was sitting there doing. I simply didn't know what to do with all that information." But led by inspirer Max Louwerse, the plans became more concrete and transcended the boundaries of the media sector; broader and more unlimited in nature than initially conceived. "And then there was the moment when I suddenly saw it all before me. All of us. We knew: we have to develop this together, because we have something big on our hands."

It is 1 April 2019 when MindLabs is officially established. Fred is there too. Indeed, he goes down in the books as the association's first board chair. "Some things run the way they do. Someone had to chair the meetings. And since I was by now the only one within the board who had been involved since the first hour, all the new faces automatically looked to me. I was the continuous factor. I knew where we were coming from." Incidentally, that was not the only reason for his name in the bylaws. "I was really extremely driven to get the concept off the ground. You get invited as an MBO president by some genius brains with an idea. And then you end up in a position where you can actually give direction. That, of course, is wonderful." He is silent for a moment and then adds, laughing: "It never got to the point where I sent a memo around and everyone immediately agreed, mind you. I shouldn't, and wouldn't want to. You have to stay alert. Continuously."

With passion and pleasure
Van der Westerlaken talks passionately about MindLabs and the highlights that have already been achieved. The opening of the new premises, for example, and the meetings that have already taken place there very concretely since then. "But also the dependencies we organise there with each other from the idea 'I need you, otherwise I won't get any further' are valuable." Then there are the presentations provided within MindLabs, which he is very fond of. And MindLabs Meets. "That makes it very clear what the added value of our association is." All in all, MindLabs is on the right track, he argues. "You really notice it: it's already a household name and fans out tremendously."

Matters that still need some attention after his departure? "Further unbundling of the education system. We are extremely alert to cooperation between different educational institutions, and things are improving. But as far as I'm concerned, we need to see and seize many more opportunities within the ecosystem to use each other's qualities and go just that one step further. For instance, you could measure the improvements that the solutions from our leading interactive technology group deliver by using illuminated brain fields of students. Then their usefulness becomes very clear and concrete. Tilburg University is very adept at such research. Then I think: why aren't we doing that yet? I really hope that will change." In his view, communication around what a MindLabs partnership entails also still needs some work. "External parties still too often think it is a kind of customer-supplier relationship. That as a member you can express a question or need and then immediately get something in return. Instead, we look for curiosity and teaming up for new insights and knowledge, with a focus on ambition, the will to invest and the willingness to share expertise. We are already in the process of communicating that more clearly. But so there are still opportunities for the ecosystem in that area too."

Hope for ambition and love of connecting 
Who will succeed Van der Westerlaken as MindLabs president is as yet unknown. "Above all, I hope that the person in question takes over my commitment, ambition and joy. Sometimes a bit of strictness, the ability to keep direction, whatever direction it may be, and the art of putting the common interest above the institutional interest. Yes, a love of connecting, which – in both my chairmanship roles, by the way – was really what it was all about. I still feel that passion myself. They can always call me up or consult me if necessary. I am and will remain MindLabs ambassador."

And as for everything else? "I don't really know yet. Until the summer holidays, I don't want any commitments that take up my schedule for a while. First I'm going to South Africa with my family. And I have so many hobbies I haven't got round to in ages... I want to read books in one sitting again. I want to pick up my guitar, which I haven't touched in 30 years. Taking a language course seems like fun, as does gardening to clear my head. I hope to start cooking more and drinking fine wines again. Also, soon I won't have to feel sorry for myself because I won't get around to running until 9.30pm. Although I might idealise the latter a bit and the fun - even when it can be done during the day - will just be gone after a few times," he states, laughing. "Oh well, we'll see. I am looking forward to it as well as dreading it. But after the summer, we'll know how I came out of it!"

The official farewell in the MindLabs building
Even though his very last meeting will not take place until 31 January, he is already starting to show withdrawal symptoms, the director reveals. "That last appointment, that's going to be a tough one. There is already a box with my things here in the office. That's where I'll put my soul after that meeting, and then I'll close the door behind me. 

And the official farewell on 25 January? That was a festive end to many years of commitment, critical thinking, setting the course, but above all connecting. This included a performance by 'his' ROC Tilburg students, short speeches, a playful quiz, snacks and drinks. It was also the afternoon that Mayor Weterings appointed him Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau, for his years of commitment to vocational education in Tilburg, the region and also nationally. "It was great that all the people who have been significant to me (and our pupils and students) made effort to come," he commented afterwards when asked. "It was relaxed, there was laughter and I occasionally shed a tear. After all, saying goodbye is also just a bit of suffering." As for his award, "I'm still stupefied by it; how just doing your job gets you so honoured!" Proud and fulfilled, he closed the MindLabs door behind him that afternoon. "No, I couldn't have wished for a better farewell. I'm still impressed."